Romanian ruling party hits back at Socialists for freezing relations

Romania's ruling party denounced the decision of the Party of European Socialists (PES) to freeze relations, calling the move "unacceptable."

The PES announced on Wednesday that it would freeze relations with the Social Democrats (PSD) at least until June, citing concerns about the rule of law in the country.

In a statement on Thursday, the PSD said it could not understand the PES move. "We have come to expect misunderstandings and accusations without evidence from PSD’s political opponents, but not from our own family," the party said.

The PES — whose European Parliament group, the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), is the second-largest bloc in the EU assembly — is home to 33 member parties, including the PSD.

In its statement, the PSD said it believes that the decision to freeze relations did "not reflect the overall position of the PES."

The party added: "If there are colleagues in the PES who have concerns about the rule of law in Romania, we look forward to them telling us in detail what issues they are worried about."

The PSD-led government of Romania, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, has come under growing criticism over rule-of-law developments in the country. Romania's allies recently issued a warning over proposed legal changes that risk weakening the justice system and the fight against corruption.

"We believe that this whole story about Romania's rule of law is a question motivated by campaign logic rather than a real concern. All this fuss will die out after the May 26 [European] elections," the PSD said in its statement.

The PES made its announcement on Wednesday, announcing the decision at the end of a statement on Brexit.

PES President Sergei Stanishev had informed "the prime ministers, commissioners and party leaders that until the Romanian Government clarified its commitment to the rule of law and followed the European Commission's recommendations, the PES leadership will consider relations with the PSD frozen, pending a formal discussion at the next PES Presidency meeting in June," the statement reads.

Stanishev also said that the PSD would not be included in PES events until the June meeting, according to the statement.

A PES spokesman confirmed to POLITICO that the party would freeze relations with the PSD until their June meeting. There would be “no meetings, no events and no activity” with the Romanian ruling party, the spokesman said, adding that the party would decide in June how to proceed.

Last month, the European People's Party (EPP) — the Socialists' conservative rivals in Europe — decided to suspend the Hungarian ruling party Fidesz over rule-of-law concerns.

Also on Thursday, the EPP said it had requested a debate on the rule of law in Romania at next week's Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg.